A new bill will allow a person to be tried and convicted of a criminal offence without seeing all the information relied on by the Crown and without the right to be present, the NZ Law Society says.

International law firm expands discount for start-upsDLA Piper is expanding its discount scheme for start-ups having successfully launched it in Texas and Arizona. The scheme offers start-up businesses discounts of between 35 and 50 per cent on normal hourly rates. Among the many requirements of start-ups are setting up non-disclosure licensing, structuring equity and protecting intellectual property. They also receive help with investment. The program runs with monthly billing and continues for 18 months or when the start-up gets institutional financing. The lawyers that work in the scheme are hired for the specialist team but the start-ups have the standard of work associated with a large law firm.

Dentons appoints 48 new partners
Dentons has announced that 48 lawyers have been promoted to the partnership. The mega-law firm has made the promotions across various practices and 22 offices in the US, Europe, UK, Middle East, Africa and Canada. There have been no promotions in the Asia-Pacific region as the merger between Dentons and Dacheng will not be completed until later this year. However it has confirmed that there will be an announcement of partner promotions in Asia-Pac shortly after completion.

International firm announces new head of financial regulatory team
Nathan Willmott has been appointed as the new head of the financial regulatory group at Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) succeeding Sidney Myers who remains at the firm. Willmott was formerly at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and joined BLP in 2007.

New tech practice head at Simmons & Simmons
Simmons & Simmons has a new head of its technology, media and telecoms practice having appointed Alexander Brown to the role. He takes over from Andrew McMillan who will concentrate on his M&A practice at the firm.